SPERI Blog

Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute

SPERI develops and promotes new analysis and understanding of contemporary capitalism, and the major economic and political challenges arising from it.

Latest posts

Has Keir Starmer healed Britain's 'fractured union'? 

Scott Lavery30 September 2024

Review - Fractured Union: Politics, Sovereignty and the Fight to Save the UK by Michael Kenny.

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City fortunes: The sources of wealth and international homeownership of the world’s urban wealth elite

Rowland Atkinson, Katie Higgins & Jonathan Bourne -  5 September 2024

We reveal the dominant industrial sectors for particular cities, key differences in the levels of inherited/self-made wealth, and the geography of their additional homes. What are the implications of new data to reveal the roots of urban fortunes around the world?

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Stricter ESG regulations may increase greenwashing risks and investor backlash

Erhan Kilincarslan & Jiafan Li - 27 August 2024

As regulations around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices intensify, companies face heightened scrutiny. While these regulations aim to promote transparency and accountability, they may inadvertently increase the risk of greenwashing and provoke investor backlash against ESG initiatives.

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Beyond the two-child benefit cap: a long-term strategy against poverty?

Benjamin Stokes - 22 August 2024

The ministerial taskforce set up in July should consider targeted aims to lower housing, energy and food costs. That will take investment – but it’s the only way to sustainably turn the tide on acute inequality in the UK. 

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Trade union repression in the Costa Rican bananera

Remi Edwards - 6 August 2024

Despite industry and national commitments to protect Freedom of Association in the Costa Rican banana sector, recent fieldwork suggests collective rights remain precarious due to cost-cutting pressures of the global supply chain combined with conflictual local industrial relations. Lee este blog en español.

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Lessons in Power: what can the new Labour government learn from the last one?

Michael Jacobs and Mems Ayinla - 9 July 2024

A brand new podcast series from 'SPERI Presents...' invites former advisors and ministers from the 1997-2010 Labour governments to reflect on lessons for Starmer and his Cabinet. Listen on Spotify.

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